Student Experiences

Ariane - currently studying Spanish for credits and Korean LLL

"I liked the way that… I was being taught in a way that encouraged a deep understanding of the way the language works and how to then use that knowledge to manipulate the language. In terms of this year, I have really appreciated the many opportunities we’ve been getting to practice our speaking skills in class. I would, therefore, recommend doing a language module at the Language Centre because I’ve only had positive experiences"

Alexa – second year international management student studying Spanish 2

"I chose to take an LC module since I thought it would be a nice balance amongst all the other business school modules. Furthermore, I also knew that I would like to go to Spain in my year abroad and that this course could help enhance my language skills…. Spanish is also a highly useful language to know, as about 437 million people speak Spanish as a native language.

I really appreciate the teaching style as it is very personable and reminds me more of a school than university setting.

I would advise those who are considering starting a language or taking an LC module to certainly do so! It is a particularly enriching experience and as I mentioned before it creates a nice balance to all other modules of the department you are in. I hope reading this has been helpful for you and wish you the best of luck in your language studies!"

Saskia – second year Liberal Arts student studying Russian extra continuation
"I see the language as a means of getting to know the country and the classes have completely fulfilled my expectations in that aspect. Russian traditions, art, literature, culture and history are all a part of the curriculum… It is nice that the classes are in such small groups and that there is a mix of materials and exercises: videos, audios, textbook, online resources, group work, speaking exercises in pairs, individual work…"

James - third year BAML student studying Russian
"…the more I study it the more I realise that firstly, every language has its own challenges and so there isn’t really any “easy” or “hard” language, and that secondly, misconceptions about Russian are so unjustified! It’s a really beautiful, poetic, interesting language with so much to offer if you give it the chance.
In the future, I hope to move abroad to a work environment where my languages will prove useful, and my course at the language centre has given me the confidence to include Russian in those languages."

Daria – final year student studying Spanish beginners accelerated

"I think one of the best aspects of the course is that apart from studying grammar and learning vocab, you get to learn about, in my case, Spanish or Latin American culture from your tutor, hear different stories and viewpoints, which opens the doors to new viewpoints for you."

Hannah - first year student studying Arabic

"I really benefit from and enjoy the Language Centre teaching style. You have four contact hours a week which covers everything from language and grammar to the practical side of reading and speaking. I like the style of teaching because they encourage you to go above and beyond in your use of the language. I would never have thought within just the first couple of weeks I’d be able to describe myself, my family and talk about such a range of interesting topics like professions, weather and the Middle East. I would highly recommend learning Arabic to anyone who is interested in starting a new language. It has sometimes put me out of my comfort zone however my favourite part of learning Arabic so far has been the rewarding feeling when the practice and effort pays off. Not only do you get to learn the beautiful language but you also gain an insight into the fascinating and diverse culture of the Arab world."

Matt - Chemistry PhD student taking French 2
"The best thing I have found about learning French this year is how much I’ve enjoyed it; I find myself constantly thinking of how to say different words and phrases in French and am even now open to the prospect of working or living temporarily in France, something that before this year I had never considered!
My advice to anybody who is thinking about undertaking a language module with the Language Centre at Warwick is to put all your fears and preconceptions aside and just go for it – I did and am certainly much better off for doing so."

Pietro - studying Arabic
"…the best thing about Arabic this year was learning new cultural and historical aspects of Arab countries like Bagdad and Cairo, which was fascinating. I would love to continue studying Arabic and use my language skills after graduating."

Ieva – studying Russian 4

"Studying at the Language Centre is an intense but enjoyable experience. The classes are never monotonous. The professional teachers diversify their classes so that the students have an opportunity to speak, read, and write in the language that they study. Studying here is also a culturally-enriching experience because the classes are structured to help the students learn as much as possible about the different countries and cultures, where their studied languages are being spoken."

Julian - studying Arabic

"For anyone who is considering starting any language, I would say…Go for it! It's so rewarding and the feeling of connecting with a native speaker in their native language is truly a great joy."

Lily - studying French"

…we focused more on conversation, which I grew to really enjoy towards the end of the module, despite it originally being very nerve-wracking.

I would recommend everyone take an LC module because it really made me much more confident in a very short space of time, even as a way to brush up on my rusty GCSE French. I am by no means fluent but I can communicate much more effectively than I could six months ago. It is a very intense course but, I would argue, incredibly rewarding because of that."